PALM SUNDAY AND OUR ENTRANCE INTO HOLY WEEK AND THE LORD'S PASSION..........

Our observance of Lent has led us to Holy Week on this Passion 'Palm' Sunday, as we prepare to commemorate the Paschal Mystery of Jesus the Christ, during the quintessential days of sacredness and solemnity in all of salvation history. Today in our prayer and worship in Word and Eucharist, we recall the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, while the crowds acclaimed Him with hosannas and olive branches, befitting a king. We hear from Isaiah the Prophet, one of the Suffering Songs and from Paul's Letter to the Philippians a Canticle of Christ's obedience to and fulfillment of, the Father's Will. The Proclamation of the Passion from Luke's Gospel with multiple voice parts, chronicles the indignities and sufferings Jesus endured as the sacrifice for the sins of humankind. The pieces of palm distributed in Catholic-Christian churches today are a symbol, that we too acclaim and then sin against God, and are in need of the forgiveness and redemption won for us by the paschal sacrifice of Christ. Holy Week is bookended by palms and lilies. But to truly participate in the Paschal Mystery of Christ involves our presence in these sacred acts of our Faith throughout Holy Week, especially in the Easter Triduum, of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday. Take time this week to be present for the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday; the Solen Liturgy of the Passion, Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion, on Good Friday; and the Easter Vigil Service and Christian Initiation, on Holy Saturday. Then you will be fully prepared to celebrate Easter Sunday, the day of the Resurrection, with the fullness of faith, fidelity, and fellowship, in the Redeemer of Humankind, God's Co-Eternal and Salvific Son, Jesus the Christ..........Happy Holy Week, Fr. Troy